A reading from the book of Genesis.

So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had and lot with him into the Negev.

Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

And he journeyed on from the Negev as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning,

between Bethel and I, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called

upon the name of the Lord. And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not

support both of them dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell

together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abrams' livestock and the herdsmen of Lott's

livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Parasites were dwelling in the land. Then Abrams

said to Lott, Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen,

for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the

left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.

And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere

like the Garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Zohar.

This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

So Lot chose for himself, all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other.

Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley

and moved his tent as far as Sodom.

Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him,

lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are

northward and southward and eastward and westward. For all the land that you see,

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